Japanese Rose Rosa rugosa

Rugosa rose is a hardy, multi-stemmed, disease-resistant deciduous suckering shrub rose in the Rosaceae family that is native to eastern Asia, in northeastern China, Japan, Korea and southeastern Siberia, The genus name, Rosa, originates from the Latin name for rose. The epithet, rugosa, is translated as wrinkled and references the appearance of the leaves

The shrub will grow 4-6 feet tall and wide, has many prickles and will sucker and form thickets crowding out native plants. It prefers moist, acidic to neutral, well-drained soils and is poor soil tolerant in full sun  It is also drought and salt-tolerant and deer tend to avoid it but may eat the flowers. 

This shrub has become invasive, especially in the New England states, Virginia and parts of Canada, especially along coastal areas. Many cultivars have been developed with single, semi-double, or double flowers in various colors and fewer prickles.  Please choose a cultivar that is better behaved than the species. See a few examples to the left.

Quick ID Hints:

• deciduous shrub, rounded, mounded habit
• stout, spiny stems with 0.25-inch needle-like prickles
• dark green upper surface, alternate, pinnately compounded leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets
• leaflets are elliptic to obovate, 1 to 2-inch long, serrate margins, wrinkled upper surface, and pubescent on the undersides
• flowers appear in clusters or singly as pink to white blooms, 2 to 3 inches wide, with 5 petals and showy yellow stamens
• fruits are large, 1-inch in diameter, cherry-like hips of red to orange

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The rugosa rose is less susceptible to diseases and insects due to its thick leaves. The plant is most disease-resistant when planted in full sun with good air circulation. Potential diseases may include rust, rose rosette, black spots, and powdery mildew.  This shrub is also susceptible to aphids, beetles, borers, scales, rose midges leafhoppers, spider mites, and thrips, Avoid wet soils. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common rose diseases as well as a factsheet on insects and other related pests.

VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.